Glow discharge solution treatment apparatus

ABSTRACT

A body of material treated by a glow discharge process is enclosed in a bell jar vessel removably suspended from and sealed to the bottom wall of a casing supported by the post of a stand above its base. Conduit fittings having passages extending into the bottom wall, establish fluid communication between the interior of the vessel and pressure controlling and monitoring apparatus. Power cables extend through the post into the casing, which encloses electrical circuitry connected to electrode assemblies projecting from the bottom wall of the casing into the vessel.

Elited @tates Eatemt 11 1 1111 3,654,053

udson I Dec. W, B974 1 GLOW DISCHARGE SOLUTION TREATMENT APPARATUS Primary ExaminerT. M. Tufariello [76] Inventor: William L. Hudson, 11304 E. 67th f gf g ff O St., Kansas City, MO. 64133 y 22 Filed: May 14, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 360,546

A body of material treated by a glow discharge process is enclosed in a bell jar vessel removably sus- [52] U.S. Cl. 250/546, 250/531 p nded from and sealed to the bottom wall of a casing [51] int. Cl CZZd 7/08, BOlk 1/00 supported by the post of a stand above its base. Con- Field 0f Search duit fittings having passages extending into the bottom 204/164 wall, establish fluid communication between the interior of the vessel and pressure controlling and monil References Cited toring apparatus. Power cables extend through the UNITED STATES PATENTS post into the casing, which encloses electrical circuitry 3,074,870 1/1963 Carswell et al. 204/302 connected to electrode assemblies Projecting from the 3,121,055 2/1964 Carswell 204/302 bottom Wall Of the Casing into the vessel- 3,475,307 10/1969 Knox et 31.. 204/165 3,484,363 12/1969 Williams 250/531 15 Clam, 7 Drawmg Flgures PATENYEU 1 01974 FIG. 4

GLOW DISCHARGE SOLUTION TREATMENT APPARATUS This invention relates to the batch treatment of material by the glow discharge electrolysis process and more particularly to apparatus for effecting such treatment of material.

The glow discharge electrolysis phenomena has been under study and utilized for some time. More recently, the glow discharge process has been utilized in the treatment of waste waters. In applying this process to the treatment of such materials, laboratory apparatus and equipment has been used which is unsuitable in connection with the use of such apparatus on a wider scale and under high voltage and severe handling conditions. It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide apparatus adapted to be utilized in an efficient manner for glow discharge treatment of materials.

In accordance with the present invention, a reaction vessel in the form of a glass bell jar is removably suspended from and sealed to the bottom wall of an operational head from which a plurality of electrode assemblies extend and within which electrical circuitry is disposed for activating the glow discharge treatment to be applied to material enclosed within the reaction vessel. The operational head is supported above the base of a stand by means of a post through which power cables extend to the electrical circuitry enclosed within the operational head. The operational head includes a casing within which an insulating medium, such as oil, envelops the upper terminal end portions of the electrode assemblies and the electrical circuitry. Conduit fittings extending radially from the bottom wall of the head establish fluid communication between the interior of the reaction vessel and pressure controlling and monitoring equipment to which the apparatus is connected. A central one of the electrode assemblies extends below the others into the body of material to be treated and thereby forms a cathode. The other electrodes are disposed above the level of the material being treated within the reaction vessel and constitute the anodes interconnected to the power supply through current controlling circuitry enclosed within the casing of the operational head, as aforementioned.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear end elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. ll.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 5-5 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial side sectional view showing a portion of the electrical circuitry and some of the electrode assemblies.

FIG. 7 is an electrical circuit diagram of the wiring within the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the apparatus of the present invention generally referred to by reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1 includes a reaction vessel in the form of a bell jar l2 removably suspended and sealed to an operational head 14 supported in an operative position by means of a stand assembly generally referred to by reference numeral 16. Pressure monitoring equipment such as the pressure gauge I8 is connected to the apparatus 10 as shown in FIG. 1. Pressure conditions within the apparatus are also controlled by connections thereto with a source of suction pressure, such as a vacuum pump, and pressure regulating valves, as will be explained hereafter.

As more clearly seen in FIGS. ll, 2 and 3, the stand assembly 16 includes a base plate 20to which a vertical post 22 is secured. A pair of laterally extending formations 24 and a forwardly extending formation 26 at the bottom of the post 22 firmly secures the post to the base by means of the fasteners 28. Integral with the upper end of the post 22 is a forwardly extending mounting formation 30 through which vertically spaced, elongated fasteners 32 and 34 secure the operational head 14 to the stand assembly 16. Power for operating the apparatus is supplied to the operational head assembly from a suitable power supply through an electrical conduit 36 that extends vertically through a slot or passage 38 formed rearwardly in the post 22 as more clearly seen in FIG. 3. The passage 38 is closed by a back plate 40 secured to the post by fasteners 42. Openings 44 and 46 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, are formed at the lower and upper edges of the back plate so as to slidably receive the electrical conduit 36 therethrough as well as hose 37 for establishing fluid connections to pressure controlling equipment as aforementioned. As a result of this arrangement, stresses imposed on the conduits by their connections to the apparatus are transferred to the base 16 and tipping over of the apparatus is avoided. The electrical conductors which extend from the upper end of the conduit 36 enter the operational head 14 on opposite lateral sides of the mounting formation 30 as more clearly seen in FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, in particular, the operational head I4 includes a housing formed by an annular casing 48 integral with a bottom wall 50. Projecting radially from the casing 48 above the bottom wall 50 on the forward side of the geometrical axis of the casing are three conduit fittings 52 to which external equipment are adapted to be coupled, such as the pressure gauge 18, a purge or bleed valve or a hose connection. Passages 54 extend through the conduit fittings 52 into the bottom wall in order to establish fluid communication between the interior of the reaction vessel 12 and external equipment associated with the glow discharge process, such as the pressure monitoring gauge 18, a source of vacuum pressure and regulatingpressure valves as well as gas purging valves.

The operational head 14 encloses a body of insulating medium such as oil 56. The interior of the casing 48 is sealed by a cover 58 secured to the casing wall by a plurality of circumferentially spaced, elongated screw fasteners of), an annular sealing gasket 62 being sandwiched between the cover 58 and the upper annular surface of the casing 48. The casing wall 48 is furthermore formed with a cross-sectionally enlarged section 64 externally formed with a flat surface 66 as clearly seen in FIG. 4, against which the mounting formation 30 and the stand assembly abuts. The fasteners 32 and 34 accordingly extend from the mounting formation 30 into the section 64 of the casing between the laterally spaced cable sealing fittings 68 through which the electrical conductors extend from the conduit 36 into the interior of the casing 48.

The reaction vessel 12 is removably secured to the bottom wall 50 of the operational head in such a manner as to seal the body of material 70 therewithin to be treated. The upper'flange 72 of the vessel is accordingly clamped to the bottom wall against an annular sealing gasket 74 by means of a pair of guide supports 76 positioned adjacent to the section 64 on either side thereof and a third removable guide support 78. As more clearly seen in FIG. 5, the guide supports 76 are secured by fasteners 80 to the peripheral edge of the bottom wall 50 and are provided with recesses 82 within which the flange 72 of the vessel is seated on rubber-like pads 84. The guide support 78 is similar to' the guide supports 76 but is removably secured to the bottom wall by means of a wing nut 86. It will be apparent, therefore, that the vessel may be slidably inserted upwardly into the guide supports 76 with the guide 78 removed in order to seat the flange within the recesses 82. The guide support '78 may then be applied and tightened by means of the wing nut 86 to complete a firm connection of the reaction vessel to the operational head 14.

A plurality of electrode assemblies are mounted on the bottom wall 50 of the operational head with the upper end portions thereof within the oil 56 while the lower end portions project into the reaction vessel. The central electrode assembly generally referred to by reference numeral 88 constitutes a cathode electrode assembly, the lower end of which is immersed within the body of material 70 to be treated, whereas the other electrode assemblies 90 are arranged into radially spaced circumferential series and constitute anode assemblies. The electrode assemblies are interconnected with the electrical circuitry housed within the casing 48 and generally referred to by reference numeral 92 in FIGS. 6 and 7. Each of the electrode assemblies includes an elongated metal rod 94 that is sheathed between its upper and lower ends by a non-conductive sleeve 96 made of material such as Teflon. The sleeve 96 is externally threaded for mounting in internally threaded openings 98 formed in the bottom wall 50 for this purpose. A sealing compound 100 may be applied to the sleeve where it projects upwardly from the opening in order to maintain the interior of the casing 48 sealed from the reaction chamber. The lower end portion of the rod 94 is provided with a threaded projection 102 in order to removably secure a blunt tip 104 of suitable conducting material such as graphite constituting the electrode element. The upper end portion of the rod 94 on the other hand, is provided with an internally threaded bore 106 adapted to receive a tenninal screw 108 in intersecting relationship to a transverse bore 110 through which electrical leads are inserted to electrically connect conductors to the electrode assembly. As shown by way of example in FIGS. 6 and 7, each anode assembly 90 is electrically connected by a resistor 112 to a power conductor 114. Each anode is also connected to a grounded capacitor 116. The cathode 88, on the other hand, is connected to ground. The power conductor 114 is connected through the conduit 36 to a suitable power supply 118. in one embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 6, the resistors 112 are electrically connected to the power conductor through an annular upper ring while the capacitors 116 are grounded through a lower annular ring 122. The foregoing electrical components of the electrical circuitry are together with the upper terminal end portions of the electrode assemblies, of course, protectively immersed within the body of oil 56 sealed within the operational head.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. Apparatus for treating material by glow discharge, comprising a housing, a reaction vessel separate from the housing enclosing the material being treated, means for supporting the housing, means for removably securing the reaction vessel to the housing to seal the material within the reaction vessel, anode means mounted in the housing and projecting into the reaction vessel above the material therein, cathode means mounted in the housing and extending therefrom into the material within the reaction vessel, electrical circuit means connected to the anode and cathode means and mounted internally within the housing for activating treatment of the material within the reaction vessel, and means connected to the housing for controlling and monitoring conditions exclusively within the reaction vessel.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said housing includes an annular casing enclosing a body of insulating medium within which the circuit means is disposed, a bottom wall secured to the casing from which the anode and cathode means are suspended, and cover means secured to the casing for internally sealing the same.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said condition controlling and monitoring means comprises a plurality of projections extending radially from the bottom wall having passages extending therefrom through the bottom wall into the reaction vessel.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said means securing the reaction vessel to the housing includes a plurality of guide supports peripherally secured to the bottom wall having recesses within which the reaction vessel is seated in sealed relationship to the bottom wall of the housing.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said anode and cathode means includes a plurality of electrode assemblies, each of the electrode assemblies comprising an elongated rod having opposite end portions, an insulator sleeve surrounding the rod between said end portions, a terminal connector mounted on one of said end portions within the housing and an electrode element connected to the other end portion within the reaction vessel.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said support means comprises a base, a vertical post secured to the base having a cable passage formed therein, a mounting formation projecting from the post above the cable passage, and means fastening the mounting formation to the housing.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the annular casing of the housing is provided with a crosssectionally enlarged section having an externally flat surface abutting the mounting formation, and cable sealing means mounted in said section and extending from said flat surface laterally of the abutting formation for receiving a cable from the passage in the post.

8. The combination of claim 2 wherein said support means comprises a base, a vertical post secured to the base having a passage formed therein, a mounting formation projecting from the post above the passage, and means fastening the mounting formation to the housmg.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the annular casing of the housing is provided with a crosssectionally enlarged section having an externally flat surface abutting the mounting formation, and cable sealing means mounted in said second and extending from said flat surface laterally of the abutting formation of receiving a cable from the passage in the post.

10. The combination of claim 2 wherein said means securing the reaction vessel to the housing includes a plurality of guide supports peripherally secured to the bottom wall having recesses within which the reaction vessel is seated in sealed relationship to the bottom wall of the housing.

11. The combination of claim 1 wherein said anode and cathode means includes a plurality of electrode assemblies, each of the electrode assemblies comprising an elongated rod having opposite end portions, an insuportions within the housing and an electrode element connected to the other end portion within the reaction vessel.

12. Apparatus for treating material by glow discharge, comprising a housing, a reaction vessel separate from the housing enclosing the material being treated, means for supporting the housing, means for removably securing the reaction vessel to the housing to seal the material within the reaction vessel, electrode means mounted in the housing and projecting into the reaction vessel and means connected to the housing for controlling and monitoring conditions exclusively within the reaction vessel, said housing including an annular casing, a bottom wall secured to the casing from which the electrode means is suspended, and cover means secured to the casing for internally sealing the same.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said condition controlling and monitoring means comprises a plurality of projections extending radially from the bottom wall having passages extending therefrom through the bottom wall into the reaction vessel.

14. The combination of claim 12 wherein said support means comprises a base, a vertical post secured to the base having a cable passage formed therein, a mounting formation projecting from the post above the cable passage, and means fastening the mounting for.- mation to the housing.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein the annular casing of the housing is provided with a crosssectionally enlarged section having an externally flat surface abutting the mounting formation, and sealing means mounted in said section and extending from said flat surface laterally of the abutting formation for relator sleeve surrounding the rod between said end porceiving a conduit from the passage in the post.

tions, a terminal connector mounted on one of said end 

1. Apparatus for treating material by glow discharge, comprising a housing, a reaction vessel separate from the housing enclosing the material being treated, means for supporting the housing, means for removably securing the reaction vessel to the housing to seal the material within the reaction vessel, anode means mounted in the housing and projecting into the reaction vessel above the material therein, cathode means mounted in the housing and extending therefrom into the material within the reaction vessel, electrical circuit means connected to the anode and cathode means and mounted internally within the housing for activating treatment of the material within the reaction vessel, and means connected to the housing for controlling and monitoring conditions exclusively within the reaction vessel.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said housing includes an annular casing enclosing a body of insulating medium within which the circuit means is disposed, a bottom wall secured to the casing from which the anode and cathode means are suspended, and cover means secured to the casing for internally sealing the same.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said condition controlling and monitoring means comprises a plurality of projections extending radially from the bottom wall having passages extending therefrom through the bottom wall into the reaction vessel.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said means securing the reaction vessel to the housing includes a plurality of guide supports peripherally secured to the bottom wall having recesses within which the reaction vessel is seated in sealed relationship to the bottom wall of the housing.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said anode and cathode means includes a plurality of electrode assemblies, each of the electrode assemblies comprising an elongated rod having opposite end portions, an insulator sleeve surrounding the rod between said end portions, a terminal connector mounted on one of said end portions within the housing and an electrode element connected to the other end portion within the reaction vessel.
 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said support means comprises a base, a vertical post secured to the base having a cable passage formed therein, a mounting formation projecting from the post above the cable passage, and means fastening the mounting formation to the housing.
 7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the annular casing of the housing is provided with a cross-sectionally enlarged section having an externally flat surface abutting the mounting formation, and cable sealing means mounted in said section and extending from said flat surface laterally of the abutting formation for receiving a cable from the passage in the post.
 8. The combination of claim 2 wherein said support means comprises a base, a vertical post secured to the base having a passage formed therein, a mounting formation projecting from the post above the passage, and means fastening the mounting formation to the housing.
 9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the annular casing of the housing is provided with a cross-sectionally enlarged section having an externally flat surface abutting the mounting formation, and cable sealing means mounted in said second and extending from said flat surface laterally of the abutting formation of receiving a cable from the passage in the post.
 10. The combination of claim 2 wherein said means securing the reaction vessel to the housing includes a plurality of guide supports peripherally secured to the bottom wall having recesses within which the reaction vessel is seated in sealed relationship to the bottom wall of the housing.
 11. The combination of claim 1 wherein said anode and cathode means includes a plurality of electrode assemblies, each of the electrode assemblies comprising an elongated rod having opposite end portions, an insulator sleeve surrounding the rod between said end portions, a terminal connector mounted on one of said end portions within the housing and an electrode element connected to the other end portion within the reaction vessel.
 12. Apparatus for treating material by glow discharge, comprising a housing, a reaction vessel separate from the housing enclosing the material being treated, means for supporting the housing, means for removably securing the reaction vessel to the housing to seal the material within the reaction vessel, electrode means mounted in the housing and projecting into the reaction vessel and means connected to the housing for controlling and monitoring conditions exclusively within the reaction vessel, said housing including an annular casing, a bottom wall secured to the casing from which the electrode means is suspended, and cover means secured to the casing for internally sealing the same.
 13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said condition controlling and monitoring means comprises a plurality of projections extending radially from the bottom wall having passages extending therefrom through the bottom wall into the reaction vessel.
 14. The combination of claim 12 wherein said support means comprises a base, a vertical post secured to the base having a cable passage formed therein, a mounting formation projecting from the post above the cable passage, and means fastening the mounting formation to the housing.
 15. The combination of claim 14 wherein the annular casing of the housing is provided with a cross-sectionally enlarged section having an externally flat surface abutting the mounting formation, and sealing means mounted in said section and extending from said flat surface laterally of the abutting formation for receiving a conduit from the passage in the post. 